Volunteers began RUBARB in March 2006, after constantly collecting unused flood bikes, pulling them from garbage piles in the streets, and fixing them up for both residents and volunteers. Bikes that would have otherwise been sitting in an overflowing dump of Post Katrina rubbish, are now being reused by many people in New Orleans. RUBARB has evolved into a full scale upper 9th ward community bike shop. A shop which began with programs such as bike lending, and bike building workshops has now become RUBARB.